Friday, April 14, 2017

Cézanne et Moi

We recently went to see Cézanne et Moi, a gorgeous film which portrays the relationship between writer E´mile Zola and painter Paul Cezanne. Zola and Cezanne grew up together. Cézanne the son of a Bourgeois banker, Zola fatherless and poor. Zola's father, an engineer, died while he was young. Later in life, roles reversed. Zola became a successful author and Cézanne, disowned by his wealthy father, struggled to survive.

I love this film! The cinematography is candy for the eyes. The camera pans over the tools of the artist's trade; their paints, brushes, canvases and subject matter. In the art supply store/gallery that the impressionists frequented, Julien 'Pér' Tanguy hands Cézanne paint in tubes. These portable paints revolutionized plein air painting. In the same scene Tanguy, who was also offering Cézanne's paintings for sale as barter for art supplies, shows the artist a canvas with a square hole in the center saying, "He didn't have enough money for the whole painting, so I sold him the apples." Imagine!? There are tableaus reminiscent of Impressionist paintings. I wanted to pause the film and gaze at the details.

The passionate friendship between Zola and Cézanne is described through its many stages from youth to adulthood. They share their thoughts, dreams and women. Ultimately, Zola's portrayal of an artist character in one of his novels is a too thinly disguised Cézanne. Cézanne is enraged and the men have a falling out. Guilliame Gallianne as Cézanne is lovable and irascible. A perfectionist in his art, he is seen constantly cutting up and stomping on his canvases. He tells his friend Zola, "I would like to paint as you write." Guilliame Canet as Zola is internalized emotion. I think he wishes he could let himself run wild like his friend Cézanne, instead he is emotionally fulfilled through his novels. The director, Daniéle Thompson, was able to film on location in many of the sites events actually occurred. Zola's house in Médan, Aix-en-Provence and others. The film is so beautifully done.